What is amlodipine besylate generic for?

What drug does “amlodipine besylate” mean?

Amlodipine besylate is the salt form of amlodipine. The generic medicine name you’ll see on prescriptions and labels is usually “amlodipine besylate,” but it’s the generic version of the brand-name blood pressure drug amlodipine.

Generic for which brand?

The most common reference point is that amlodipine (including amlodipine besylate) is the generic for Norvasc, a widely used brand of amlodipine for high blood pressure and certain heart-related conditions.

What is it used to treat?

Amlodipine is a calcium channel blocker used to treat:
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- Chronic stable angina (some types of chest pain)
- Vasospastic (Prinzmetal’s) angina

Is “amlodipine besylate” the same as “amlodipine”?

Yes. “Besylate” just identifies the salt form (amlodipine besylate) used to make the drug stable and easier to formulate. The active medicine is amlodipine in both cases.